Midsize 3-row SUVs provide practical transportation for families or just anyone who can benefit from a vehicle with many seats. There’s a lot of variety in this class, with almost every mainstream car brand offering a competitor in the segment. That means buyers have many more options than just the mainstream top sellers. Two such examples are the Hyundai Palisade and the Mazda CX-90.
Let’s take a closer look at these SUVs and see which one is right for you.
2025 Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade is one of our favorite midsize 3-row SUVs. With its class-leading warranty, family-friendly and surprisingly premium interior, and excellent resale value, there’s a lot for families to love. It even has a unique aesthetic that sets it apart from the crowd. Pricing starts at $38,675.
Hyundai Palisade Highlights
More interior space: If you’ll have passengers in the third row regularly, they’ll appreciate the extra room in the Hyundai Palisade. The Hyundai has more legroom, headroom, and shoulder room in the third row than the Mazda. As for cargo room, the Palsiade has 20 percent more cargo space behind the third row.
Class-leading warranty: The Hyundai Palisade boasts class-leading warranty coverage with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This can bring a lot of peace of mind if you’re planning on keeping your next car for a long time.
Excellent resale value: The Mazda CX-90 has above-average resale value, but the Hyundai Palisade’s is even better. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Palisade models for sale near you.
2025 Mazda CX-90
The Mazda CX-90 packages the athletic driving dynamics and upscale interior quality we love about the Mazda brand as a family-friendly 3-row SUV. Its multiple powertrain options range from efficient to sporty, and all-wheel drive (AWD) comes standard across the board. There’s even a fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option. Pricing starts at $39,500.
Mazda CX-90 Highlights
Exciting Turbo S models: The Turbo S trims of the Mazda CX-90 have a special engine tuning that churns out 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, giving it a significant improvement in performance compared to the Hyundai Palisade. This is the one to get if you want a practical SUV that’s fun to drive.
PHEV option: A plug-in hybrid version of the Mazda CX-90 can go up to 25 miles on electricity alone and returns a respectable 25 combined mpg rating when the battery is depleted. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Palisade has no hybrid options.
More efficient: Not only does the CX-90 have a PHEV option, but its base engine is more fuel-efficient than the V6 in the Hyundai Palisade. According to EPA estimates, you save about $30/month on gas in the CX-90 compared to a Palisade with all-wheel drive.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CX-90 models for sale near you.
Similarities
These are both midsize 3-row SUVs with seating for up to eight people. They’re similar in size and price. They also both have the distinction of a high level of interior quality for a non-luxury SUV.
Pricing
New 2025 Hyundai Palisade Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (19087)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$38,675 |
$37,290 |
|||
$41,425 |
$39,515 |
|||
$44,525 |
$42,459 |
|||
$46,025 |
$43,912 |
|||
$50,075 |
$47,736 |
|||
$52,475 |
$50,260 |
|||
$55,975 |
$53,596 |
New 2025 MAZDA CX-90 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (19087)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$39,500 |
$38,224 |
|||
$42,600 |
$41,270 |
|||
$48,055 |
$46,646 |
|||
$51,055 |
$49,456 |
|||
$54,605 |
$53,092 |
|||
$58,105 |
$56,222 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Hyundai Palisade vehicles and New 2025 MAZDA CX-90 vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Hyundai Palisade | 2025 Mazda CX-90 | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.8-liter V6 | 3.3-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 280 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm | 332 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic, FWD | 8-speed automatic, AWD |
| Fuel Economy | 19 city/26 hwy/22 combined mpg | 24 city/28 hwy/25 combined mpg |
| Towing Capacity | 5,000 pounds | 3,500-5,000 pounds |
| Also Available | AWD | 340-hp Turbo S, PHEV |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 Years/60,000 Miles | 3 Years/36,000 Miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 Years/100,000 Miles | 5 Years/60,000 Miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 5-Star | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 114.2 inches | 122.8 inches |
| Overall Length | 196.7 inches | 201.6 inches |
| Width | 77.8 inches | 77.6 inches |
| Height | 68.9 inches | 68.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.7 feet | 41.2 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.7 inches | 39.7 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.1 inches | 39.3 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 37.8 inches | 36.9 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 44.1 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 42.4 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 31.4 inches | 30.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.2 inches | 57.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 60.8 inches | 58.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 55.2 inches | 53.3 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 18/45.8/86.4 cubic feet | 14.9/40/74.2 cubic feet |
Conclusion
Many factors favor the Hyundai Palisade as the value choice in this comparison. It has a lower starting price, a roomier interior, longer warranty coverage, and better resale value. Plus, it shares the Mazda CX-90’s virtue of an upscale interior in the higher trims.
However, we love the variety under the hood of the Mazda CX-90. The models with “S” in the name offer greater driving thrills than the Hyundai, and we always like to see a PHEV option. That said, most families who need a practical SUV will be better off with the Hyundai Palisade.
